Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb that’s been used for millennia in the ancient practice of Ayurveda, a form of medicine with its roots firmly placed in India. That’s quite the sentence, I know. And I’m willing to bet there’s two words in there – ashwagandha and Ayurveda – that you might not be familiar with.
I wasn’t fully up to speed on what either of them were until I started researching the best ingredients to add to my testosterone boosting supplement, Testoraise. But I soon discovered the benefits of ashwagandha and how it’s been used as part of the ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine for thousands of years.
Another word (that also happens to begin with A) that goes hand in hand with ashwagandha and Ayurveda, is ‘adaptogen’. An adaptogen is a substance that helps the body adapt to, and manage stress. This stress could be internal, such as a change in hormonal levels, or external, such as pushing your body in the gym.
When it comes to the stresses and strains we put our bodies under when we’re working out, an adaptogen helps us increase our resistance to this physical stress, allowing us to push harder, for longer.
Ashwagandha is one such adaptogenic substance. I developed my new Testoraise supplement to help you naturally boost your testosterone levels. In part, this is down to the adaptogenic herbs ashwagandha, maca and fenugreek. Boosted testosterone has many benefits, including better athletic performance, muscle building and fat burning along with increased energy, a better mood and more fulfilling sex life. Sounds good, right?
But don’t just take my word for it, here’s what the science says about ashwagandha…
Ashwagandha and testosterone levels
Numerous scientific studies have found that men taking ashwagandha supplements have boosted testosterone levels.
Increased levels of testosterone are shown to help decrease levels of fat within the body and increase lean muscle mass. This change in body composition is one of the ultimate aims of fitness and exercise and is why I knew I had to include ashwagandha in Testoraise.
The science backs this up too, with studies showing that ashwagandha supplements increase strength and incredibly, can lead to twice the decrease in body fat percentage when compared with a placebo.
But the benefits of raised testosterone from ashwagandha don’t end there…
Studies have also found that infertile men can enhance their chances of having children by taking ashwagandha to increase both the count and mobility (how much individual sperm cells can move and therefore reach an egg to fertilise it) of their sperm.
Ashwagandha and the immune system
Our immune system helps to protect us against disease and infection and is our biggest defence against colds, flu and stomach bugs that can sap our energy and prevent us from exercising.
The immune system comes under attack all the time, and chronic inflammation can be its worst enemy. Chronic inflammation can be caused by stress, a poor diet, excess alcohol and breathing in environmental toxins.
Ashwagandha has shown an ability to increase the activity of immune cells called natural killer cells that help us fight infections, and decrease markers of inflammation within the blood. This means that we’re more likely to stay well and do the things we enjoy that keep us healthy, such as going to the gym.
Ashwagandha, stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety are also reasons we might not exercise to our best ability and reach the goals that we want to. So another reason for using ashwagandha supplements is the ability of this herb to reduce emotional stress.
Researchers have discovered that it can reduce feelings of anxiety by almost 70%, leading to better sleep and improved performance. In another study, 88% of subjects said they felt their anxiety had reduced over six weeks of taking ashwagandha supplements.
So now you know how this ancient herb can up your A-game, testosterone, performance and mood, what’s your reason for not taking Testoraise?
